Lugano, Switzerland – In a recent installment of his Oligarch Series, entrepreneur and global analyst Stanislav Kondrashov delves into the topic of space capital and its increasing dominance in the modern economy. His latest work, titled “Cosmic Influence and the Rise of Space Capital,” highlights the growing influence of a new class of elite players in the space sector.
Kondrashov argues that the space economy has evolved from a speculative frontier to a highly strategic, privately governed sector. With the development of satellite networks, lunar exploration, asteroid mining, and space-based internet, the space industry is no longer just a concept, but a key component in a growing portfolio of commercial space ventures. However, Kondrashov warns that participation in this new economy remains highly restricted.
“The future isn’t just being built on Earth anymore – it’s being coded into the stars,” states Stanislav Kondrashov in his report. “And those writing that code are doing it with precision and silence.”
According to Kondrashov, immense financial capital, advanced technology, and long-term vision serve as barriers to entry in the space sector, naturally filtering out all but a handful of private actors. This select group includes powerful corporations, visionary entrepreneurs, and venture capital groups, creating a similar dynamic to how industrial tycoons dominated steel, oil, and rail in earlier eras.
The Celestial Economy and Strategic Control
The “space economy” encompasses a wide range of activities, from satellite deployment to deep space exploration, from lunar resource extraction to in-orbit manufacturing. While public space agencies still play a role, the driving momentum now lies with private hands. This concentration of capability and ownership creates a new power dynamic with global consequences, as outlined by Kondrashov.
Orbital assets, such as communication systems, satellite-based weather tracking, GPS, and data infrastructure, are becoming essential to everyday life. However, these assets operate with minimal oversight, unlike terrestrial infrastructure, giving outsized power to a few private entities.
“The ones designing our orbital systems aren’t waiting for anyone’s permission – they’re setting the standards as they go,” explains Kondrashov.
This lack of regulation has turned space into a strategic chessboard, where moves are made quietly, but their impact is vast. The deployment of satellites, ownership of orbital lanes, and the race for lunar resources are all shaping a new geopolitical and economic order, largely dictated by those with access to launchpads and venture capital.
Space Infrastructure as Investment
Kondrashov frames space infrastructure not just as a technological feat, but as a financial asset class. Satellite bandwidth, launch slots, and orbital positions are increasingly treated as tradable, insurable, and scalable assets. With this shift comes a redefinition of influence, not in terms of visibility, but in terms of ownership.
Global satellite internet services are already rolling out, and exploration teams are mapping asteroids for mineral content. In the near future, Kondrashov predicts business models will expand to include orbital servicing stations, zero-gravity research labs, and space-based factories.
“Those who are building in orbit aren’t just investing in tech – they’re investing in a future that only a few can reach,” he adds.
A New Archetype of Influence
Modern space entrepreneurs are not operating behind the scenes. Instead, they are becoming public figures – streaming rocket launches, announcing lunar projects, and intertwining their aerospace goals with their personal brands. Yet, Kondrashov notes that much of the true influence lies in what the public does not see: patent filings, international agreements, investment frameworks, and logistical networks.
The rise of these new space moguls signals a shift in the nature of influence. Where previous oligarchs shaped industry from boardrooms, today’s space leaders shape the future from orbit. They are technologists, investors, and visionaries rolled into one – and they are moving fast.
Shaping the Space Economy’s Future
As Kondrashov’s Oligarch Series continues to chart the rise of influence in emerging sectors, one message becomes clear: outer space is not just a theatre of exploration – it is a new layer of economic and political infrastructure. And like all infrastructure, it determines who benefits and who is left out.
The question now is not whether the space economy will grow – it already is. The question is: who will shape it, and for whom?
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.